Bracket for mounting radio or other instrument in automotive vehicle instrument panel

ABSTRACT

A bracket ( 20 ) for attachment to a side of a radio or other multimedia instrument ( 40 ) having a leading edge ( 22 ) with an outwardly projecting, generally U-shaped rib ( 23 ) positioned inwardly of a free end of the leading edge, and/or an in-turned flange ( 26 ) positioned away from the leading edge of the bracket and having a tab ( 27 ) extending normally from the flange for engagement with the instrument to support and position the instrument during attachment of wiring elements to the instrument.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a bracket for attachment to a side of a radioor other multimedia instrument to assist in the insertion of theinstrument into an instrument panel of an automotive vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The insertion of a radio or other multimedia instrument, such as anavigation device, into an instrument panel of an automotive vehicle isusually performed manually, in which case it usually requires a bracketattached to both of the opposite sides of the instrument to assist inthe insertion of the instrument. Each such bracket typically has anoutwardly projecting flange at its leading edge for purposes ofimparting rigidity to the bracket. Unfortunately, the availableclearance between the opening into which the instrument is to beinserted and the outer extent of the flange of the bracket that isattached to the instrument is quite small, and this problem can resultin a delay in the instrument insertion operation.

Another problem previously encountered in manually inserting a radio orother multimedia instrument into an instrument panel of an automotivevehicle is the problem of suspending the instrument, which can oftenweigh as much as 3.5 kg in the case of a radio, while wiring harnessconnections are made to the back of the instrument. In addition to apossible problem of worker fatigue arising from the fact that the workertends to hold the instrument in a single hand while using the other handto insert the wiring connection, inherently there is some variation inthe position of the instrument from unit to unit while the wiringconnection is made, which can also result in a delay in the instrumentinsertion operation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, a bracket is provided for attachmentto a multimedia instrument the bracket having a reduced lateral extentleading edge to facilitate the insertion of the instrument into anopening of an automotive vehicle instrument panel. The bracket isreinforced for purposes of rigidity by an externally projecting rib thatis spaced inwardly from the leading edge of the bracket, and this makesit easier for the worker manually inserting the instrument into theopening to find the opening, inasmuch as the instrument is alreadypartly inserted in the opening before the rib is positioned to enter theopening. Further, the rib, which is U-shaped in cross section, has asmooth outer surface, which makes it far less likely to hang up as itenters the opening than the outer edge of the flange of the prior artbracket, which typically has a sharp edge. Further, the U-shaped rib,because of its dual thickness, adds rigidity to the bracket over thatprovided by a single thickness flange in a leading edge of the bracketwith very little increase in the weight of the bracket.

A bracket according to the present invention, as heretofore described,or a prior art bracket as heretofore described, may also be providedwith an in-turned tab that extends from an in-turned flange that hasmounting holes for connecting the bracket to a front of the instrumentto which the bracket is to be assembled. The tab is adapted forinsertion into an opening of the instrument in which the bracket isassembled, and especially with the aid of a like bracket attached to anopposite side of the instrument, serves both to support the weight ofthe instrument during the attachment of wiring elements to the back sideof the instrument, to prevent fatigue to assembly workers, but also tostabilize the position of the instrument during such attachment to helpreduce the lost assembly tine that may occur during such attachment as aresult of motion of the instrument at that time.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a further understanding of the present invention, attention isdirected to the drawing and the following brief description thereof.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a prior art bracket for attachment to aside of a radio or other multimedia instrument prior to insertion of theinstrument into an opening in an instrument panel of an automotivevehicle;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a bracket according to the presentinvention for attachment to a side of a radio or other multimediainstrument prior to insertion of the instrument into an opening of aninstrument panel;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is an elevation view of a multimedia instrument with opposedbrackets according to the present invention attached to opposite sidesof the instrument.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Prior Art

FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art bracket that is generally stamped of ametallic material, such as steel, for attachment to a radio or othermultimedia instrument (not shown) to facilitate the assembly of theinstrument into an opening in an instrument panel of an automotivevehicle. The bracket 10 has a leading edge 12, that is, the edge thatleads when the instrument is inserted into the instrument panel opening,and the leading edge 12 is configured with an outwardly projectingflange the purpose of which is to add rigidity to the bracket 10.Unfortunately, the flange of the leading edge 12, which has a free edgethat may be somewhat rough, tends to hang up or interfere with theinsertion of the associated multimedia instrument into an automotiveinstrument panel inasmuch as the available space is often quite limitedin this region. The bracket 10 also has an inwardly turned flange 14that is positioned away from the leading edge 12; the flange 14 permitsthe bracket 10 to be bolted or otherwise secured to a rear surface ofthe instrument. The bracket 10 also has and an outwardly turned flange16, by which the bracket is bolted or otherwise secured to the frontsurface of the instrument, as well as openings 18 that permit thebracket 10 to be bolted or otherwise secured to a side of theinstrument. It is to be understood that each multimedia instrument has asimilar bracket attached to its opposed side, the only differencebetween the spaced, opposed brackets is that one is a left-hand versionand the other is a right-hand version.

During preparation of the instrument for manual insertion into anopening in an instrument panel of the vehicle, the instrument is held inone hand by an assembly worker while the other hand of the worker isconnecting wiring elements to the instrument at the rear thereof. Thisrequirement permits the assembly worker to become fatigued, and it alsopermits the instrument to move somewhat during attachment of the wiringelements, which complicates the wiring connection procedure and candelay completion of the insertion task.

Present Invention

A bracket according to the present invention is generally identified byreference numeral 20. The bracket 20, like the bracket 10, is stampedfrom steel and is intended to be attached to a side of a radio or othermultimedia instrument, which is identified by reference numeral 40 inFIG. 4, and an opposed bracket 20A is attached to an opposed side of theinstrument 40. The bracket 20A is like the bracket 20, except that it isan opposite hand version thereof.

The bracket 20 has a leading edge 22 which, unlike the leading edge 12of the bracket 10, does not have an outwardly projecting flange. Rather,the leading edge 22 of the bracket 20 is reinforced by an inwardlysituated and outwardly projecting U-shaped rib 23 to add rigidity to thebracket 20. By locating the rib 23 inwardly from the free or distal endof the leading edge 22, an instrument 40 with the bracket 20 attached ismore easily inserted into an opening in an instrument panel of anautomotive vehicle, not only because of the absence of an outwardlyprojecting flange at the free or distal end of the leading edge, butalso by virtue of the smooth outer surface of the rib 23.

Like the bracket 10, the bracket 20 is also provided with openings 28,corresponding to the openings 18 of the bracket 10, by which the bracket20 may be bolted or otherwise secured to an instrument, such as theinstrument 40; the bracket 20 is also provided with a flange 24 by whichthe bracket 20 is bolted or otherwise secured to a surface of aninstrument 40; and the bracket 20 is also provided with a flange 26 onwhich the bracket 20 is bolted or otherwise secured to a surface of theinstrument 40. The flange 26 differs from the flange 16 of the bracket10 in that the flange 26 is provided with an in-turned tab 27 that isadapted to be inserted into an opening in an instrument 40, by which theinstrument 40 may be suspended and accurately positioned duringconnection of wiring elements to the instrument 40, thus eliminating theneed for an assembly worker to hold the instrument 40 in a suitableposition during the connection of the wiring elements.

The best mode known to the inventor(s) for carrying out the presentinvention as of the filing date hereof has been shown and describedherein, but it will be apparent to those skilled in the art thatsuitable modifications, variations and equivalents may be made withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention, such scope being limitedsolely by the terms of the following claims and the legal equivalentsthereof.

1. A bracket for attachment to a side of a multimedia instrument tofacilitate insertion of the instrument into an opening in an instrumentpanel of an automotive vehicle, said bracket comprising: a generallyplanar member for attachment to a side of the instrument, said generallyplanar member having a leading edge that is adapted to be inserted intothe opening, said leading edge having a free end; and a reinforcing ribformed in said leading edge at a location inwardly of said free end,said reinforcing rib being generally U-shaped in cross section andhaving a smooth outer surface.
 2. A bracket according to claim 1wherein: said generally planar member is stamped from a metallicmaterial.
 3. A bracket according to claim 2 wherein, said metallicmaterial is steel.
 4. A bracket according to claim 1 and furthercomprising: an in-turned flange extending from said generally planarmember at a location away from said leading edge; and a tab extendingnormally from an end of said in-turned flange for engaging themultimedia instrument to support and position the multimedia instrumentduring insertion of the instrument panel into the opening of aninstrument panel of an automotive vehicle.
 5. A bracket according toclaim 4 wherein: said generally planar member is stamped from a metallicmaterial.
 6. A bracket according to claim 5 wherein: said metallicmaterial is steel.
 7. A bracket for attachment to a side of a multimediainstrument to facilitate insertion of the instrument into an opening inan instrument panels said bracket comprising: an in-turned flange; and atab extending normally from an end of said in-turned flange for engagingthe multimedia instrument to support and position the multimediainstrument during insertion of the instrument into the opening of theinstrument panel.
 8. A bracket according to claim 7 wherein: saidgenerally planar member is stamped from a metallic material.
 9. Abracket according to claim 8 wherein: said metallic material is steel.10. An assembly comprising: a multimedia instrument having an opposedpair of sides, the instrument adapted to be inserted into an opening ofan instrument panel of an automotive vehicle; and a bracket according toclaim 1 attached to one of the sides of the multimedia instrument. 11.An assembly according to claim 10 and further comprising: an oppositehand version of a bracket according to claim 1 attached to the otherside of the multimedia instrument.
 12. An assembly according to claim 10and further comprising: a bracket according to claim 4 attached to oneof the sides of the multimedia instrument.
 13. An assembly according toclaim 10 and further comprising: an opposite hand version of a bracketaccording to claim 4 attached to the other side of the multimediainstrument.
 14. An assembly comprising: a multimedia instrument havingan opposed pair of sides and adapted to be inserted into an opening ofan instrument panel of an automotive vehicle; and a bracket according toclaim 7 attached to one of the sides of the multimedia instrument. 15.An assembly according to claim 14 and further comprising: an oppositehand version of a bracket according to claim 7 attached to the otherside of the multimedia instrument.